Cengiz Aktar: The Ecumenical Patriarchate from a Historical, Political, Religious, and Legal Perspective
On May 24, 2011, IPM hosted the launch of the book The Ecumenical Patriarchate from Historical, Political, Religious, and Legal Perspectives, edited by Bahçeşehir University faculty member Cengiz Aktar. Among the many publications written about the Patriarchate in Turkey with propaganda purposes, this work stands out for its objectivity and its attempt to dispel existing conceptual misunderstandings on the subject. Following the opening speech by Director Fuat Keyman, guest speaker Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I delivered a short address. Later, in a panel chaired by Cengiz Aktar, researchers and experts such as Elçin Macar, Paraskevas Konortas, Samim Akgönül, Kürşat Demirci, Emre Öktem, and Cem Sofuğlu shared their work and thoughts on the subject.
Promoting Trade and Development in sub-Saharan Africa
On May 13, 2011, IPM organized a workshop with the German Marshall Fund (GMF) titled "Promoting Trade and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Transatlantic Partnership Opportunities with Emerging Economies in the G20."
Turkey- Africa Seminar
On April 14, 2011, IPM organized the "Turkey-Africa Seminar" in Istanbul in cooperation with Chatham House and the Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TÜSON). The conference, which featured opening remarks by IPM Senior Advisor Joost Lagendijk and TÜSON Secretary General Mustafa Günay, addressed Turkey's foreign policy toward Africa, its role in balancing Turkey's growing competitive economic and political interests in Africa, long-term policy plans, and interaction with local organizations in Africa.
7th Annual Sakıp Sabancı Conference
The seventh edition of the traditional Sakıp Sabancı Conference, organized in collaboration with IPM and the Brookings Institution, was held in April 2011. The keynote speaker at the conference was Javier Solana, former High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, who drew attention to recent developments concerning Turkey, Europe, and the world in 2011. Solana stated that relations between Europe and Turkey should be deepened and should not be limited to talks at the negotiating table. Kemal Derviş, Member of the IPM Executive Board and Director of the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development Program, commented on Solana's speech, highlighting the following points: "The EU Accession Project is Not Just an End in Itself, But a Big Step Toward a Better Global Order for Tomorrow (It’s Important to Remember That the EU Accession Project is Not Just an End in Itself, But a Big Step to a Better Global Order for Tomorrow).” Senior Expert and Sabancı University faculty member Ayşe Kadıoğlu moderated the discussion among listeners who joined the Washington speech via video conference from Sabancı University.
Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom—Rationales, Challenges and Dilemmas
The IPM and Magna Charta Observatory organized a workshop on "Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom—Rationales, Challenges and Dilemmas."
German-Turkish Round Table: Perspectives for the Middle East under the aspect of the role of Germany and Turkey
The first German-Turkish Round Table meeting was held on October 8, 2010, at the Sabancı Museum in Istanbul. Twenty experts from Turkey and Germany came together to evaluate the possibility of establishing a German-Turkish dialogue on international challenges. The Round Table laid the foundations for a new initiative aimed at playing a bridging role in common political and economic issues in the international arena between Germany and Turkey and developing dialogue between the two countries.The first German-Turkish Round Table Meeting was held under the title "Perspectives for the Middle East under the aspect of the role of Germany and Turkey." During the meeting, which consisted of three separate sessions, important discussions were held on Turkish-German cooperation in Middle Eastern politics, and many ideas were exchanged on creating productive mutual interaction between the two countries and on the role of both countries in the Middle East.
Iran and the Future of U.S. – Turkey Relations
The Istanbul Policy Center and the Hollings Center organized a conference in October 2010 titled "Iran and the Future of U.S.-Turkey Relations." Building on the foundations of a workshop held in May, this conference brought together 31 Turkish and American experts focusing on topics such as Iran, the U.S., Turkish foreign policy, national security strategy, energy, and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Turkey and Its Neighborhood: Transatlantic Implications
The Istanbul Policy Center EU Observatory and Transatlantic Academy organized a conference titled "Turkey and Its Neighborhood: Transatlantic Implications" on June 10, 2010, at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum at Sabancı University. The conference brought together decision-makers, academics, analysts, and journalists from Europe, Turkey, and the United States to discuss Turkey's new foreign policy in the region and its implications for transatlantic relations.
U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq: Implications for Turkey-Iraq Relations and the Middle East
On May 25, 2010, in Ankara, the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) held a conference titled "U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq: Implications for Turkey-Iraq Relations and the Middle East." Özgür Ünlühisarcıklı from The German Marshall Fund of the United States Ankara Office, one of the conference sponsors, and Üstün Ergüder, then director of IPM, delivered the opening remarks.
National Conference on Good Practices in Participatory Local Development
The World Newspaper, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Turkey Representative Office, the National Innovation Initiative, the TÜSİAD-Sabancı University Competition Forum, and the Istanbul Policy Center launched a project to identify and reward the best local development methods. On May 23-24, 2010, as part of this project, the Best Practices in Participatory Local Development Awards were held in Ankara, where all projects were presented and the best projects were selected and awarded by the jury.
Metropolitan Governance International Conference
The Istanbul Policy Center, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and in cooperation with the Kadıköy Municipal Council, held the "Metropolitan Governance International Conference" on May 21-22, 2010, at the Kadıköy Municipality New Council Building. The aim of the conference was to explore recent developments in Metropolitan Governance in various European countries and cities. In this context, various speakers addressed the topic of Metropolitan Governance in detail in their presentations, covering both theoretical and practical aspects.
International Conference on Reconciliation Models
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPM), in collaboration with Sabancı University's Conflict Analysis and Resolution Program, Boğaziçi University Peace Center, and the Netherlands Institute for Higher Education, jointly organized the "International Conference on Reconciliation Models" on May 8, 2010, together with the American University Global Peace Center and Columbia University Center for Human Rights Studies.